Language/Danish/Grammar/Conditional-Mood

Danish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Advanced Grammar → Conditional Mood

Introduction

In this lesson, we will delve into the advanced topic of conditional sentences in Danish. The conditional mood allows us to express hypothetical situations, possibilities, or events that depend on certain conditions. Mastering the conditional mood is essential for achieving fluency in Danish and expressing complex thoughts and ideas. Throughout this lesson, we will explore the formation and usage of conditional sentences in various contexts. By the end, you will have a solid understanding of how to construct and use conditional sentences in Danish.

Formation of Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences in Danish are formed using the conditional mood of the verb. To form the conditional mood, we typically add the suffix "-de" or "-te" to the stem of the verb. The choice between "-de" and "-te" depends on the conjugation class of the verb and the vowel in the stem. Let's look at some examples to illustrate this:

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs in Danish follow a predictable pattern when forming the conditional mood. Let's take the verb "at tale" (to speak) as an example:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Jeg talte	[jɛ tɑlə]	I would speak
Du talte	[du tɑlə]	You would speak
Han/hun/den/det talte	[hɑn/hun/dɛn/dɛt tɑlə]	He/she/it would speak
Vi talte	[vi tɑlə]	We would speak
I talte	[i tɑlə]	You (plural) would speak
De talte	[də tɑlə]	They would speak

As you can see, the conditional form of the verb "at tale" is formed by adding the suffix "-de" to the stem of the verb. This pattern applies to most regular verbs in Danish.

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs, on the other hand, do not follow the regular pattern when forming the conditional mood. Each irregular verb has its own unique conjugation in the conditional mood. Let's take the verb "at være" (to be) as an example:

Danish	Pronunciation	English
Jeg ville være	[jɛ vɪlə bæɐə]	I would be
Du ville være	[du vɪlə bæɐə]	You would be
Han/hun/den/det ville være	[hɑn/hun/dɛn/dɛt vɪlə bæɐə]	He/she/it would be
Vi ville være	[vi vɪlə bæɐə]	We would be
I ville være	[i vɪlə bæɐə]	You (plural) would be
De ville være	[də vɪlə bæɐə]	They would be

As you can see, the conditional form of the verb "at være" is "ville være." This particular verb does not follow the regular pattern and requires a different conjugation in the conditional mood.

Usage of Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences in Danish are used to express hypothetical or unreal situations, possibilities, or events that depend on certain conditions. They often involve the conjunction "hvis" (if) to introduce the condition. Let's look at some examples to understand the usage of conditional sentences:

Expressing Hypothetical Situations

We use conditional sentences to express hypothetical situations that are contrary to reality or unlikely to happen. These situations are often introduced by the conjunction "hvis" (if).

For example:

• Hvis jeg vandt i lotteriet, ville jeg købe et hus. (If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.)
• Hvis jeg var dig, ville jeg tage afsted nu. (If I were you, I would leave now.)

In these examples, the conditional sentences express hypothetical situations that are not currently true or likely to happen.

Expressing Possibilities

Conditional sentences can also be used to express possibilities or potential outcomes based on certain conditions. These sentences often involve the conjunction "hvis" (if) to introduce the condition.

For example:

• Hvis vejret er godt, vil vi gå en tur i parken. (If the weather is good, we will go for a walk in the park.)
• Hvis du studerer hårdt, kan du bestå eksamen. (If you study hard, you can pass the exam.)

In these examples, the conditional sentences express possible outcomes based on specific conditions.

Expressing Polite Requests

Conditional sentences can also be used to make polite requests or suggestions. In these cases, the condition is often implied rather than explicitly stated.

For example:

• Ville du være så venlig at lukke vinduet? (Would you be so kind as to close the window?)
• Ville du kunne hjælpe mig med at bære disse poser? (Could you help me carry these bags?)

In these examples, the conditional sentences are used to make polite requests without explicitly stating the condition.

Cultural Insights

The usage of conditional sentences in Danish reflects the pragmatic nature of Danish culture. Danes value honesty, directness, and practicality in their communication. Conditional sentences allow them to express hypothetical or potential situations without committing to a definitive statement. This linguistic feature aligns with the Danish cultural value of avoiding unnecessary commitments and leaving room for flexibility.

Additionally, it is worth noting that Danish conditional sentences often omit the conjunction "hvis" (if) when the condition is implied or can be inferred from the context. This omission reflects the Danish preference for brevity and efficiency in communication.

Exercises

Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Test your understanding of conditional sentences by completing the following exercises:

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses:

a) Hvis jeg (vinde) i lotteriet, ville jeg købe en bil. b) Hvis du (studere) hårdt, kan du få gode karakterer. c) Hvis vejret (være) godt, går vi en tur i skoven.

2. Rewrite the following sentences using conditional sentences:

a) Jeg vinder i lotteriet. Jeg køber en bil. b) Du studerer hårdt. Du får gode karakterer.

Solutions

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses:

a) Hvis jeg vandt i lotteriet, ville jeg købe en bil. b) Hvis du studerer hårdt, kan du få gode karakterer. c) Hvis vejret er godt, går vi en tur i skoven.

2. Rewrite the following sentences using conditional sentences:

a) Hvis jeg vandt i lotteriet, ville jeg købe en bil. b) Hvis du studerede hårdt, kunne du få gode karakterer.

Congratulations on completing the exercises! You're well on your way to mastering conditional sentences in Danish.

Table of Contents - Danish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Danish Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Danish Alphabet
• Pronunciation Basics

  ---

Everyday Phrases and Greetings

• Greetings and Introductions
• Common Phrases

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure and Word Order

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Questions and Negations

  ---

Numbers, Dates, and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Days, Months, and Seasons
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Plurals and Possessives

  ---

Family, Relationships, and Occupations

• Family Members
• Relationships
• Occupations

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Forms and Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food, Drinks, and Dining

• Food and Drinks
• Dining Out

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Modal Verbs

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

  ---

Danish Culture and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Danish Customs and Etiquette

Sources

• Danish grammar - Wikipedia
• Cool Danish Verb Conjugator | Cooljugator.com

Other Lessons

• Nouns
• Plurals
• Indefinite Articles in Danish
• Questions
• How to use “can” in Danish
• Future Tense
• Possessive Case in Danish
• Definite Articles in Danish
• The Dative Case in Danish
• How to use “be” with adjectives in Danish